Built back in 1730 by the Browne family, Westport House and Gardens have been welcoming visitors for decades.
The historic estate boasts stunning Georgian architecture, beautifully landscaped gardens and… an adventure centre. Yes, you read that correctly!
Below, you’ll get an insight into its history, the tour, how to stay at Westport House and what to see a stone’s throw away. Enjoy!
Some quick need-to-knows before visiting Westport House
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Although a visit to Westport House is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
1. Location
Westport House is located just a five-minute drive from Westport Town itself in County Mayo. The Georgian-era estate overlooks the Carrowbeg River between Westport town and the Quay Side area.
2. Opening hours
The opening hours of Westport House varies throughout the year. For the house itself, you can visit:
- May & June: 10am to 4pm
- July & August: 10am to 5pm
- September & October: 10am to 4pm
- November & December: Weekends 10am to 4pm
3. Admission
Ticket prices also vary depending on what part of the estate you want to explore. The prices for Westport House are:
- Adult: €14.50
- Concession: €11.50
- Student (with ID): €11.50
- Children: €7.00
- Child (2 years and under): FREE
4. Camping and glamping
The huge estate is also home to one of the best places to go glamping in Ireland for families – Westport House Caravan and Camping Park. There are excellent amenities like a football pitch, foot golf, playgrounds, leisure centre, gym and a 20m swimming pool.
The history of Westport House
Westport House is still privately owned and one of the few remaining historic homes in Ireland.
For over 300 years, the Browne family built and lived in the house until another local family, the Hughes, bought the house in 2017.
Origins and architectural history
The house was built by the Browne family in the 18th century.
The family are direct descendants of the famous 16th century Pirate Queen, Grace O’Malley.
The house was in fact built on the foundations of one of her castles of which she had a few scattered around Western Ireland.
The house was designed by famous architects, Richard Cassels, James Wyatt and Thomas Ivory.
Open to the public
In 1960, Jeremy Browne, 11th Marquess of Sligo, decided to open the estate to the public after being inspired by similar houses in the UK.
He was passionate about diversifying the offerings beyond the house and he introduced a number of fun attractions including rides and the campground.
Over time the adventure park was developed and rebranded in the 2000s.
New owners and the future
In 2017, the Browne family sold the historical house and estate to the local Hughes family.
It marked a new chapter in the history of the estate with upgrades and restoration works planned for the near future, including expansion of walking trails and the adventure park.
What to see and do at Westport House
One of the beauties of Westport House and Gardens is that there’s plenty to see and do both in and outside the house.
Below, you’ll find everything from the gorgeous gardens and the house tour to walks and much more.
1. Explore the gardens
Photo by marion horan (Shutterstock)
Westport House has over four hundred acres of lush green woodland with plenty of space and trails to explore.
The gardens and grounds are free to enjoy with walking trails through the gardens and forest to stretch your legs and ramble along.
You’ll find terraces, ancient oak trees and views back across Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick.
2. Step back in time at the house
As one of the most beautiful historic homes in Ireland, Westport House has incredible architectural beauty and antique touches to admire indoors.
With either a guided tour or audio tour, the stories of the house and owners contained in the 30 rooms and 6 permanent exhibitions comes to life.
You can explore all the rooms across 3 floors including the best work from the famous architects of the 18th century.
There’s still a fine collection of artwork on the walls as well, including portraits of historical figures and family members.
3. Explore the area on foot
Photo by Gabriela Insuratelu (Shutterstock)
One of the best ways to explore the estate is on foot. The grounds and garden are free to roam with plenty of walking trails through the woodland to ramble along.
There is a restored 3.5km loop walk which offers sea and lough views across some of the best parts of the estate.
You can also find a couple of new trails, including one that takes you past cascades and waterfalls on the Carrowbeg River and one that takes you through a challenging 1.5km section of the Southern Woods.
4. Take the kids to the adventure park
Photo via Westport House
The best place to take the kids is certainly the Pirate Adventure Park on the grounds of the estate.
The whole family will love the park which includes rides, slides, boats and trains with a day pass that provides unlimited use of the attractions.
There’s a long list of rides and activities including the cannonball run slide, pedal boats on the lake, pirate’s playground, zipline, vortex tunnel, mini Ferris Wheel and table tennis.
You can also get a discount on tickets if you stay at either Hotel Westport or the caravan and camping park.
5. Westport House camping
Photos via Westport Estate Glamping on FB
This campsite is a solid option for those of you that don’t fancy staying in one of the hotels in Westport (or one of the many B&Bs in Westport).
Located in a very picturesque setting with surrounding woodland and close to the river’s edge, it’s also just a 15-minute stroll from Westport town.
Whether you’ve got your own caravan and camping setup or want to hire one of their Bell Tents, it’s a great place to give camping or glamping a go.
There are also a number of facilities available to make your stay more comfortable, including hot showers, toilets, recycling, waste water, free Wi-Fi and picnic areas.
Things to do near Westport House
When you finish up at the house, you’re a stones throw from some of the best places to visit in Westport, from Croagh Patrick and Achill Island to much, much more.
Below, you’ll find everything from hikes and walks to beaches, island and more to visit after you leave Westport House.
1. Croagh Patrick
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Also known as ‘the Reek’, Croagh Patrick is a bucket list hike for many visiting this part of Ireland.
A historic pilgrimage site dating back 5,000 years, the climb to the top is tough and takes between 3.5 and 4.5 hours.
2. Great Western Greenway
The Great Western Greenway is a 43.5km trail that links Westport with Newport, Mulranny and Achill Island.
You can rent a bike in the town and then zip along the Wild Atlantic Way at a gentle pace.
3. Achill Island
Photos via Shutterstock
Lying just off the coast of County Mayo, Achill Island is one of the most popular places to visit in Mayo for good reason.
There are plenty of things to do in Achill, from Minaun Heights and Keem Bay to the deserted village.
4. Westport Town
Photos via Shutterstock
A charming coastal town on the west coast of Mayo, Westport Town is a historical town with stone bridges and tree-lined promenades.
There are plenty of great restaurants in Westport and there are some fine pubs in Westport, too!
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.